11.57: So there we are. It was a marvellously entertaining game of tennis, bitterly disappointing if you're a Murray fan, but you've still got to take a sharp intake of breath at Federer sometimes. Tennis will be an awfully bare place once he decides he's had enough. Murray should get himself some takeaway sushi, head back to the hotel, have a good cry and a good sleep, and at some stage next week stride back on to a practice court with a terrifying, incinerating sense of righteousness. It's the only way to the top. Hope you enjoyed the live blog this morning. See you soon.

11.43: "Well done for a fantastic tournament," Federer consoles Murray. "You're too good a player not to win a grand slam, so don't worry about it. I'm over the moon and I think I've played some of the best tennis of my life over the last two weeks. This is my first grand slam as a father, so it's very special for me." Up in the stands, Mirka offers a rare smile. Federer ends with an ominous message: "See you next year." Oh, we will, Roger. As sure as night follows day and transport Armageddon follows a snow flurry, we will.

11.39: For the first time I can remember, Andy Murray chokes up in front of an audience. "To keep doing it year after year is pretty special, and he was a lot better than me tonight," he says. "Hopefully one time I can come back and win here. I've had great support back home. Sorry I couldn't do it for you tonight. I can cry like Roger, it's a shame I can't play like him." Halfway though thanking his team, another sob rises. "I'm sorry, I'm done here," he announces, and steps away from the microphone.

11.34: The stats frame Federer's dominance. His first serve percentage was 66 to Murray's 57; he hit 11 aces to Murray's 10; served two double faults, half Murray's total; and hit 46 winners to Murray's 29. The match was two hours and 41 minutes long, 50 minutes longer than Murray lasted in the 2008 US Open and a full hour and 10 minutes longer than Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lasted in the semi-final. Small comforts.

11.32: It's presentation time at the Rod Laver arena, but it could be mistaken for Davos, judging by the number of suits that appear to have swamped the court like zombies in a computer game. Murray looks tired. Federer never looks tired.

11.29: Federer does it again. There were times, towards the end of the first set and during much of the second, when his play truly approximated the divine. Murray played a good hand, and that was a display that would have seen off any other player in the top 10. But before the game, he said he had to play his best ever game of tennis to beat Federer. Accomplished though it was, that wasn't it. Let's make no mistake about it, Murray is a fine, fine player, possibly the best that Britain's ever produced. But on the biggest of the big points, Federer tightened the screw while Murray simply tightened. Crestfallen though he'll be at the moment, you feel Murray will be back. Meanwhile, you know Federer will.

Federer 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) Murray Wonderful drop volley from Federer to give himself a second championship point. Murray's definitely tiring now, but that's brilliant! Federer attacks a Murray second serve before flipping a drop shot just over the net, but Murray, legs, pounding, sinews bursting, makes a pass which Federer thinks is out. They both celebrate, but it's Murray's point! An inexplicable volley into the net from Federer gives Murray a fifth set point, but it's cruelly snuffed out with an ace. Federer plays another solid forehand into the corner to give himself a third championship point. And when Murray surrenders a backhand into the net, Federer has his 16th grand slam title.

Federer 6-3 6-4 6-6 (*9-9) Murray That looked like Murray's last chance, but Federer sends a forehand long to give Murray a third set point. It's a magnificent point, both players sending each other scuttling along the baseline. At the end of a 23-shot exchange, Murray steps confidently towards the net and plants a backhand volley - wide. Wide. Federer serves an ace to give himself a first match point, and the crowd are up on their feet as Federer runs round and threads a forehand pass milimetres - milimetres! - wide of the sideline. Then Federer nets with a backhand, and it's set point Murray again. He has a quarter-chance as Federer fails to put away a volley, but Murray's lob drifts harmlessly into the left tramlines. Third changeover.

Federer 6-3 6-4 6-6 (*6-6) Murray Another unforced error from Murray gives Federer the lead in the tie-break for the first time. He wrests himself level with a peach of a forehand that just kisses the line, and a 132mph ace give him a 5-4 lead. Murray then plays an exemplary passing shot, forcing Federer to net with a volley and it's two set points. Federer saves the first by finding an impossible angle, and then, heartbreakingly, Murray has the court at his mercy after a mid-court return from Federer, but smacks the put-away into the net.

Federer 6-3 6-4 6-6 (*3-3) Murray A resounding ace from Murray gets him off to the perfect start, and he also claims the first-mini break when Federer sends a forehand long. Murray 2-1 up as he takes his two serves, but after winning the first point, an ugly backhand is hewn wide to hand Federer back the break and they're level at the changeover.

Federer 6-3 6-4 6-6* Murray No sign of Ricky Hatton in the Murray box, but Sir Chris Hoy's there, taking a break from his Bran Flakes commercials to cheer on a fellow Scot. Federer needs to win this game to force a tie-break, and at no point does he not look like doing so. More brilliant, brilliant forehands from him, and it's tie-break time. Bish, bash, bosh.

Federer 6-3 6-4 *5-6 Murray Murray wins himself two game points with some solid serving, but a bloodthirsty Federer brings it back to deuce. Murray is refusing to go gentle into that good night, though, and an ace, which Murray has to challenge, gives him the game. After another of his crushing defeats by Federer, Andy Roddick joked that the only way to beat the Swiss was to climb over the net and punch him in the face. Now, who does Murray know who's good at punching...?

Federer 6-3 6-4 5-5* Murray Murray will be seething at that one. Federer didn't have to work any miracles to win that game. He simply glared at Murray, with a scowl 15 grand slams high, and the Scot could only wince. A marvellous cross-court forehand and a missed Federer drop shot give Murray hope of retrieving the break, but again, like the world's nastiest nightclub bouncer, Federer slams the door in his face.

Federer 6-3 6-4 *4-5 Murray Federer sends a cross-court forehand wide to hand Murray the first point of the game, but an immense forehand from Federer draws him level. Murray's having to scrap for every point here, and takes his foot off the gas in netting a routine backhand. A miscued forehand from Federer clips the line and deprives Murray of his last challenge. Murray hits a good first serve to save the break point, but a backhand pass from Federer forces an error at the net from Murray. Advantage Federer, and under the immense pressure, Murray cracks. A forehand into the net and with a depressing sense of predestination, Federer has broken back.

Federer 6-3 6-4 3-5* Murray Even Einstein sometimes left the gas on when he went out. Finally, after two hours of genius, Federer appears to be hitting a bit of a lull. He can still ping a delicious forehand on demand, though, and is hardly troubled in holding to love. Still, it's all in Murray's hands now. He'll serve for the third set.

Federer 6-3 6-4 *2-5 Murray For the first time in an hour, they're sitting up in the Rod Laver Arena. Murray is riding the wave of anticipation here, and cruises to 40-0 with the aid of some Federer slips. If he could just win this set - if. Murray fires an ace to move three games clear.

Federer 6-3 6-4 2-4* Murray Now, here's a chance! Federer nets twice to give Murray 0-30, and then sends a forehand long. It's three break points for Murray, and there's a groundswell of buzz here. You feel it's now or never, but Federer finds two exemplary first serves to bring it back to 30-40. Federer hits another first serve and sweeps to the net, but Murray peppers passing shot after passing shot at him. Federer's managing to get them back, Murray steps forward and pastes a volley into the corner. There it is!

Federer 6-3 6-4 *2-3 Murray The Murray of the second set would have beaten the Federer of the first set. Not quite how it works, though, is it? Another lush forehand from the Greatest Player Ever To Draw Breath (TM) gives Federer 15-30, and to add injury to insult, Murray appears to be clutching at his thigh. A colossal forehand draws him level, and Federer dips his head below the clouds to make two unforced errors and hand Murray the game. Murray just about keeping his head above water, and he hasn't called for the trainer, so that thigh can't be bothering him too much.

Federer 6-3 6-4 2-2* Murray Murray's been very aggressive on the forehand side in this set, and the tactic's paying off. He wastes a challenge though querying a Federer serve and jars his knee slightly as Federer proceeds to take the game.

Federer 6-3 6-4 *1-2 Murray Good from Murray, holding to love with an ace. Takes his seat feeling a little better about life, but winning three straight sets against Federer is still, to put it mildly, a big ask.

Federer 6-3 6-4 1-1* Murray Superb forehand winner from Murray, struck from five yards behind the baseline gives Murray half a sniff at 30-30, and another winner from the same side takes it to deuce. Murray then has a break point after a rare unforced error on the backhand side. Murray slaps the court in frustration after his backhand down the line goes long. And that's his chance gone - Federer holds.

Federer 6-3 6-4 *0-1 Murray No change of shirt colour from Murray at the end of the second set, so if there is a superstition involved then I've no idea what it is. Federer's a little off in this opening game, allowing Murray to win a game without too much drama for once.

Federer 6-3 6-4 0-0* Murray Del Potro was in this situation at last year's US Open, remember, and broke at a crucial stage of the second set. But Federer wasn't serving anything like as well as he is tonight. Murray does well to get the first two serves back into court but loses both points, while an ace gives Federer three chances to win the second set. Freed from the shackles of, you know, having a chance to win, Murray gets a couple of crisp forehands away. But the Swiss takes the second of his set points to move into an almost impregnable lead. To be fair, the temptation to switch off must be overwhelming by now, but let's put it this way: if Murray manages to turn this around, wouldn't you want to be there?

Federer 6-3 *5-4 Murray Another wonderful forehand from Federer opens the scoring in this game, but Murray replies with an inside-out of his own to level at 15-15. The Scot is starting to find his first serve again, and a routine hold - his first in a good while - forces Federer to serve out for the set.

Federer 6-3 5-3* Murray Brilliant serving from Federer, who knocks in his fifth and sixth aces to hold to love in a matter of seconds. Murray's slipping out of this set and a nation, you sense, is gradually rising from its sofas and heading for the breakfast table.

Federer 6-3 *4-3 Murray Murray looking like a man who's making a gradual, awful realisation. Federer's playing him like a cheap piano here, first drawing him out of position and dinking over a drop shot, then forcing Murray wide to get it to 0-40. But a sweaty Murray somehow saves four break points, and after another epic rally, Federer nets and against all the odds, Murray holds. A clenched fist from Judy Murray, and Federer is at least being made to work for his £1.2 million.

Federer 6-3 *4-2 Murray That God-awful drop shot from Murray, the one that everyone within a five-mile radius can see coming, rears its ugly head again. But Federer goes long with a backhand, and it's 30-30 and another half-chance. Murray's got the better of the next rally, but a 21-shot rally ends in heartbreak as a Federer backhand clips the net cord and drops achingly on Murray's side. Murray twice hauls it back to deuce, but try as he might he just can't muster two points in a row.

Federer 6-3 *3-2 Murray Federer's hitting top gear here. How does he do this? What preternatural force draws his shots on to the lines while his opponent's drift two inches wide? In medieval times, I feel, he'd have been burnt as a witch. Another double fault gives him two break points, but Murray saves them both with an ace and a cracking forehand down the line. Somehow Murray summons the groundstrokes to hold.

Federer 6-3 3-1* Murray That was a chance, and Murray knows it. At 15-15 he has a short Federer forehand, but fails to put it away, and then misses with his passing shot. He gets it back to 30-30, but Federer lifts his game again to consolidate the break. Add up all the half-chances he's had so far, and there's been enough opportunities to make some inroads.

Federer 6-3 *2-1 Murray Murray's in deep trouble here. A couple of tame errors see him slip 0-30 behind, and when Federer unleashes a dreamy cross-court pass, it's three break points. The Swiss is all over Murray like a beach towel here, and when a forehand dribbles into the bottom of the net after more unanswerable baseline pressure, Murray has ignominiously lost his serve to love.

Federer 6-3 1-1* Murray That's more like it from Murray, a wicked cross-court backhand winner, and when he forces Federer to go long he has a sniff of a sniff at 30-30. That's Federer, though - he'll let you try the merchandise, but when you get to the checkout it's mysteriously disappeared from your shopping basket. It's not a perfect metaphor. Federer holds.

Federer 6-3 *0-1 Murray A change of shirt for Murray - he's all in white now - seems to do the trick. He holds comfortably.

Federer 6-3 0-0* Murray The higher the stakes, the better Federer plays, which is why I reckon I'd be in with a decent shout against him. Murray runs and runs, but Federer's hitting the lines now, and holds to 15 to take the first set. Murray had his chances in that set, but five winners, 11 unforced errors, and a first-serve percentage of 45 per cent tell their own story. From promising beginnings, it's all going a bit Bogdanovic here.

Federer *5-3 Murray Change of shirt for Federer, change of balls for Murray's serve. He needs to lift that first-serve percentage of 50. A double fault first up isn't the way. Murray sends a forehand wide and suddenly Federer has 0-30. That's better, though. A thumping 132mph serve (top speed of a Honda Civic: 129mph) brings him back into it, but a backhand threaded down the line gives Federer a break point, and he seizes on a Murray second serve to win the game. That's rather pricked the bubble, hasn't it?

Federer 4-3* Murray A double fault gives Murray 15-30, and Federer is getting away with merely being world-class here, rather than his usual level, somewhere between divine and a figment of the imagination. He pulls the game out of the bag, and we're moving towards the sharp end of the set.

Federer *3-3 Murray Impressive stuff from Murray. He's sticking the ball on the baseline and in the corners, forcing Federer to go for more Hail Mary shots than even he can hope to pull off. A successful challenge helps Murray to a hold to 15.

Federer 3-2* Murray The ball boys and girls are clad in a rather curious shade of mauve, which allied to the urban headgear, makes them look like extras from a Cheryl Cole video. Federer wins a 27-shot rally, but Murray's attacking Federer's serve like it's burgling his home at 3am, and wins two break points. Murray loses a challenge on the first, and a fine serve saves the second. He gets a third go, but Federer simply switches his serving phasers to 'Liquefy', and two aces seal the game. Murray seems to have settled well, though. It doesn't look like a rout in the making, but only because Federer so rarely gets routed...

Federer *2-2 Murray What a boost for Murray after getting schooled in his opening service game. Back on serve here, and you almost hanker for a few regulation holds to calm the nerves. Murray successfully uses his first challenge of the match, getting a Federer forehand called long, and after a superb, scampering rally, holds to 30.

Federer 2-1* Murray Well, hang on a moment. Murray gets to 15-30 again, pouncing on a Federer drop shot, and creates two break points with a backhand pass from so wide he could almost have shaken hands with the line judge. Federer has the upper hand in the next point, but fails to put away an easy forehand and Murray passes him for the break!

Federer *2-0 Murray It's Murray's turn to falter this time, throwing up a double fault to trail 0-30. An imperious backhand down the line brings up three break points for Federer. Murray saves the first, but a stinging forehand into the corner gives him the break. Right, that's that then, we can probably all head back to bed now.

Federer 1-0* Murray First blood to Murray, as he finishes a testing rally by swiping a backhand down the line, and he's 0-30 up in double-quick time as Federer nets. But the Swiss hauls himself back into it with a couple of decent serves and it's deuce. Murray's timing it sweetly, but two errant backhands hand Federer the game.

08.39: But what of the main battle? Murray's opted for a blue top with rather pleasing flashes of yellow down the side. For Federer, it's sky-blue with the now ubiquitous headband. Federer to serve.

08.33: Since Federer won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003, only six players have beaten him in the longest format: Nalbandian, Kuerten, Safin, Djokovic, Nadal and Del Potro. No Alex Bogdanovic, you ask? No.

08.30: It's time. The players enter the arena.

08.25: Murray holds a 6-4 record over Federer, but has never beaten him over five sets. Frighteningly few players have. Anybody want to venture a list?

08.20: The trophy is being brought out onto the court. It's called the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, and it comes with a cheque for around £1.2 million, which, should Murray win it, would buy a lot of sushi.

08.15: How does he do it, then? Go out all guns blazing? Soak up the pressure and wait for an error? Slip something into his drink? Boris Becker, for one, thinks Murray needs to go for it.

Murray is in the form of his life and has blazed a trail through this tournament, coping with a tough draw and raising expectations brilliantly.

Federer, though, as Murray himself acknowledges, is the finest player ever to swing a racquet. So to end Britain's 344-year wait for a grand slam champion, Murray must produce something pretty special over the next three or four hours.